Career and Technical Education

What is Career and Technical Education?

Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides students the opportunity to explore multiple career fields across 17 Career Clusters. Students can specialize in a career area that aligns with their passion. CTE programs are available to students at the middle and high school levels, as well as both campuses of the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center (Courthouse and Hull). 

CTE offers students the opportunity to earn industry recognized certifications related to their coursework, and to participate and take leadership positions in their Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO). Students also have the opportunity for experiential learning opportunities, known as Work-Based Learning (WBL) experiences, which are related to a specific occupational area. In specific CTE courses, students also have the opportunity to earn dual enrollment credit aligned towards earning an Associate’s Degree.

CCPS CTE Performance Snapshot

CTE Completer:SY-2016/17 Completers (1,451)SY-2017/18 Completers (1,650)
Academic Attainment: English: Reading99.65%99.76%
Academic Attainment: Mathematics99.38%99.70%
Technical Skill Attainment: Student Competency Rate92.49%99.88%
Passing Credentialing Test Rate96.00%98.48%
Graduation Rate98.62%99.58%

Annual Performance Reports

Career and Technical Education Career Clusters

The National Career Clusters® Framework serves as an organizing tool for Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, curriculum design, and instruction. There are 16 Career Clusters in the National Career Clusters Framework, a 17th, Energy and Power, in Virginia effective as of July 1, 2019, representing 79 Career Pathways to help learners navigate their way to greater success in college and career. The framework also functions as a useful guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and postsecondary systems, and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options. As such, it helps learners discover their interests and their passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that may lead to success in high school, college, and career.

Chesterfield County Public Schools offers programs of study in each career cluster, though, not all of the nationally identified Pathways are available due to our local business economy alignment. 

CTE Career Clusters

CTE Programs

Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares students for careers across 17 Career Clusters. The programs of study are a coordinated, non duplicative sequence of academic and technical content at the secondary and postsecondary level that is aligned to local, regional, and state industry needs. The program of study is designed to foster student exploration of multiple careers that leads a student to specialize in a CTE program and pursue a career of interest. Please view the link below to see Chesterfield County Public School’s CTE Program of Study.

Chesterfield CTE Programs of Study
CCPS Middle and High School Course Offerings

Career and Technical Student Associations (CTSOs)

All students in a CTE program have the opportunity to be a part of a Career and Technical Student Association (CTSO). CTSOs are co-curricular organizations that provide students the opportunity to apply their CTE knowledge in a real world setting, develop leadership characteristics, network with local businesses, and take an active part in their community. Students also have the opportunity to participate in local, state, and national competitions. Below are the CTSOs associated with each program area.

  • Agricultural Education: FFA
  • Business and Information Technology Education: FBLA
  • Family and Consumer Sciences Education: FCCLA and Ed Rising
  • Health and Medical Sciences Education: HOSA
  • Marketing Education: DECA
  • Technology and Engineering Education: TSA
  • Trade and Industrial Education: Skills USA

Work-Based Learning

Work-Based Learning (WBL) is an initiative in Chesterfield County Public Schools that provides students experiential learning opportunities while enrolled in CTE courses. WBL helps students apply and extend classroom learning, gain motivation, explore careers, and develop a critical understanding of the work environment.

WBL experiences are part of a coordinated continuum of experiences including, but not limited to, guest speakers, field trips, informational interviews, job shadowing, service-learning projects, internships, apprenticeships, and cooperative education. 

WBL experiences allow students to further develop their 21st century skills (6C’s: critical thinking skills, collaboration skills, communication skills, creative thinking skills, citizen skills, and connection skills), grow their professional network, and gain vital on-the-job experiences related to their coursework. 

Chesterfield County Public Schools CTE is currently in the initial stages of the WBL initiative, and will built out a formal program over the upcoming years. Please revisit this page as we will continue to upload additional information and resources.#CTEWorking

VDOE Work Based Learning Guide

Industry Certifications

Each CTE program of study offers students the opportunity to earn an industry recognized certification related to their coursework. In 2018-19, 9,110 industry certifications were earned by students in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Available industry certifications for our CTE programs can be seen by clicking the link below.

2014-152015-162016-172017-182018-19
% of CTE Completers Earning Industry Certification63626701753183749110
# of Industry Certifications Earned87.75%89.73%96.93%99.09%98.12%
CTE Industry Certifications

Concurrent and Dual Enrollment

Concurrent and dual enrollment opportunities are widely available across CTE programs in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Dual enrollment programs allow qualifying students to earn college credit for coursework completed at the high school level for a significantly reduced cost. Concurrent enrollment allows a student to earn college credit by taking a class at the college while in high school. The college credits are offered in partnership with the Virginia Community College System and other institutions of higher learning. Typically the credits can be applied toward a course of study at the granting institution, giving students a boost in their post-secondary studies and career preparation.

CTE Advisory Board

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Board is made up of representatives in our local school division (teachers, counselors, administrators), post-secondary college partners, business and workforce partners from the seventeen career clusters, representatives of special populations, parents, and students. The purpose of the advisory board is to provide assistance, feedback, and approval of the operations, initiatives, and direction for all of our CTE programs in Chesterfield County Public Schools.

CTE Advisory Board Members
Advisory Board Meetings

CTE Staff Contacts

Address: 13900 Hull Street Road, Midlothian, Virginia 23112

Phone: 804-639-8668 ext. 1044

  • Chad Maclin, Director
  • Dr. Colleen Bryant, Coordinator – CTE Implementation
  • Georgia Kasper, Coordinator – Work-Based Learning
  • Barbara Davenport, Curriculum Specialist
  • Sam Leone, Curriculum Specialist
  • Jaimie Miller, Finance and Support

CTE Events Calendar

CTE programs across the district have many school specific CTE events throughout the year. Please check with your local school for specific event dates/times.  A sample list of district wide events can be seen on our events calendar below.

2019-20 CTE Calendar of Events